Autonomous power adaptation in a heterogeneous cellular environment

ABSTRACT

Autonomous power adaptation in a heterogeneous cellular environment is disclosed. In some embodiments, autonomous power adaptation for a first small area cellular device in a heterogeneous cellular environment includes collecting received signal strength information for one or more neighboring large area cellular devices and one or more neighboring small area cellular devices; and determining a maximum transmit power for the first small area cellular device that minimizes interference with the one or more neighboring large area cellular devices and the one or more small area cellular devices, in which determining the maximum transmit power for the first small area cellular device that minimizes interference with the one or more neighboring large area cellular devices and the one or more small area cellular devices includes prioritizing the one or more neighboring large area cellular devices over the one or more neighboring small area cellular devices.

CROSS REFERENCE TO OTHER APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/329,004, entitled AUTONOMOUS POWER ADAPTATION IN AHETEROGENEOUS CELLULAR ENVIRONMENT filed Dec. 16, 2011, which claimspriority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/423,890 entitledHOME NODEB (HNB) POWER ADAPTATION filed Dec. 16, 2010, which areincorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In a wireless network, base stations provide the link necessary for theterminal to send and receive data. Typically, these base stations arestatic in that they are not turned on or off. Furthermore, when basestations are on, the transmission does not cease and restart. Also,additions and deletions of base stations are infrequent. As datathroughput increases and base station density increases, there is moreoverlap of the cell coverage area. Also, applications increasinglyrequire higher quality of services (QoS). Higher QoS generally requireshigher spectrum efficiency. To provide for this, there will need to bemore base stations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the followingdetailed description and the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates Home NodeB (HNB) coverage and dead zones forproviding power adaptation with some embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a chart illustrating Pmax vs. macro CPICH RSCP to maintainEcp/Io at −18 dB at 80 dB away from HNB for co-channel and 47 dB foradjacent channel in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a chart illustrating Pmax vs. macro CPICH Echo to maintain amacrocell Ecp/Io at −18 dB at 80 dB away from HNB for co-channel and 47dB for adjacent channel in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates coverage and path loss for two HNB devices inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a chart illustrating indoor path loss vs. distance.

FIG. 6 is a chart illustrating Pmax vs. HNB CPICH RSCP to maintain aneighbor HNB Ecp/Io at −16 dB at 60 dB away from HNB for co-channel and27 dB for adjacent channel in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 7 is a chart illustrating Pmax vs. HNB CPICH Echo to maintain aneighbor HNB Ecp/Io at −16 dB at 60 dB away from HNB for co-channel and27 dB for adjacent channel in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating autonomous power adaptation in aheterogeneous cellular environment in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 9 is a functional diagram for Home Node B device (HNB) forimplementing autonomous power adaptation in a heterogeneous cellularenvironment in accordance with some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention can be implemented in numerous ways, including as aprocess; an apparatus; a system; a composition of matter; a computerprogram product embodied on a computer readable storage medium; and/or aprocessor, such as a processor configured to execute instructions storedon and/or provided by a memory coupled to the processor. In thisspecification, these implementations, or any other form that theinvention may take, may be referred to as techniques. In general, theorder of the steps of disclosed processes may be altered within thescope of the invention. Unless stated otherwise, a component such as aprocessor or a memory described as being configured to perform a taskmay be implemented as a general component that is temporarily configuredto perform the task at a given time or a specific component that ismanufactured to perform the task. As used herein, the term ‘processor’refers to one or more devices, circuits, and/or processing coresconfigured to process data, such as computer program instructions.

A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the invention isprovided below along with accompanying figures that illustrate theprinciples of the invention. The invention is described in connectionwith such embodiments, but the invention is not limited to anyembodiment. The scope of the invention is limited only by the claims andthe invention encompasses numerous alternatives, modifications andequivalents. Numerous specific details are set forth in the followingdescription in order to provide a thorough understanding of theinvention. These details are provided for the purpose of example and theinvention may be practiced according to the claims without some or allof these specific details. For the purpose of clarity, technicalmaterial that is known in the technical fields related to the inventionhas not been described in detail so that the invention is notunnecessarily obscured.

With an increasing number of wireless communication devices, such assmall area cellular devices (e.g., femtocells, picocells, andmicrocells) as well as large area cellular devices (e.g., macrocells)being deployed in wireless networks, more power is being transmitted andused. Furthermore, such increasing transmission can lead to greaterinterference (e.g., in areas of transmission spectrum overlap). Forexample, femtocells and/or picocells can also interfere with each other(e.g., radio frequency (RF) interference) due to unplanned deploymentand uncoordinated deployment by different users or entities (e.g.,different residents in a housing development or apartment complex).Accordingly, various techniques are disclosed herein to, for example,reduce base station transmissions interference with neighboringmacrocells and other neighboring base stations (e.g., neighboringfemtocells, picocells, and/or microcells). For example, by reducing atransmit power for a femtocell, there can be a reduction ofinterference, which can also increase the QoS. Also, autonomoustechniques for power adaptation for a small area cellular device (e.g.,a femtocell, picocell, or microcell) are provided to reduce RFinterference problems that increasingly arise in unplanned heterogeneouscellular environments.

In some embodiments, techniques for wireless communication are provided,particularly related to small area cellular devices, such as a basestation, access point, relay node or relay station, with differentair-interfaces, functionality, or configurations. As used herein, theterm “base station” generally refers to, for example and withoutlimitation, any “femtocell”, “picocell”, “microcell”, and/or othersimilar types of base station devices, and also includes, for exampleand without limitation, non-cellular stations, such as access points,relay points, repeater devices, relay stations, and/or other similartypes of non-cellular stations. As used herein, the term “terminal”generally refers to, for example and without limitation, any device(e.g., user equipment (UE)) communicating wirelessly with a base stationor another terminal in the case of a peer-to-peer environment. Variousembodiments disclosed herein, for example, provide for enhanced basestations and relays by facilitating the reduction of interference withneighboring base stations, such as nearby femtocells, picocells,microcells, and macrocells.

FIG. 1 illustrates Home NodeB (HNB) (e.g., a 3G femtocell) coverage anddead zones. As shown, the HNB coverage and dead zones for a given device(e.g., a femtocell, a picocell, or a microcell) is shown illustratingthe HNB coverage 104, the coverage hole caused by the HNB for macro userequipments (MUEs) from neighboring macrocells operating in co-channel(CoCh) 106, the coverage hole caused by the HNB for home user equipments(HUEs) from neighboring femtocells or picocells operating in co-channel(CoCh) 108, the coverage hole caused by the HNB for MUEs fromneighboring macrocells operating in adjacent channels (AdCh) 110, andthe coverage hole caused by the HNB for HUEs from neighboring femtocellsor picocells operating in adjacent channels (AdCh) 112.

In some embodiments, power adaptation for a small area cellular device(e.g., a femtocell, picocell, or microcell) in a heterogeneous cellularenvironment includes determining a transmit power level based onprioritizing the one or more neighboring macrocells over the one or moreneighboring femtocells and neighboring picocells as further describedherein with respect to various embodiments. For example, using thisapproach, a transmit power for a femtocell can be set so as to ensurethat a neighboring macrocell's coverage is protected with a higherpriority over neighboring femto/picocells (e.g., to ensure that afemtocell does not unnecessarily disrupt a cellular device'scommunication with the neighboring macrocell). In some examples, themacrocell interference is not a significant concern (e.g., not within acoverage area of a macrocell), but neighboring small area cellulardevices (e.g., other femtocells or other picocells) may be within acoverage area and such interference calculations can be determined tominimize the coverage hole(s) created for such neighboring femtocells orpicocells.

In some embodiments, power adaptation for a small area cellular devicein a heterogeneous cellular environment further includes using snifferreports to determine transmit power adjustments as further describedherein with respect to various embodiments. For example, a small areacellular device can measure signal strength of neighboring devices, suchas a pilot signal, to generate sniffer reports for each neighboringdevices for which signals can be detected.

In some embodiments, power adaptation for a small area cellular devicein a heterogeneous cellular environment further includes usingmeasurement reports received from one or more user equipment (UE)devices based to fine tune transmit power adjustments for the small areacellular device as further described herein with respect to variousembodiments. For example, using measurement reports received from servedUE devices, further fine tuning of the transmit power of the small areacellular device can be implemented using various techniques describedherein.

Accordingly, autonomous power adaptation (e.g., for small area cellulardevices, such as femtocells, picocells, and microcells) in aheterogeneous cellular environment is disclosed. In some embodiments, asystem, process, or computer program product for autonomous poweradaptation for a first small area cellular device in a heterogeneouscellular environment includes collecting received signal strengthinformation for one or more neighboring large area cellular devices andone or more neighboring small area cellular devices; and determining amaximum transmit power for the first small area cellular device thatminimizes interference with the one or more neighboring large areacellular devices and the one or more small area cellular devices, inwhich determining the maximum transmit power for the first small areacellular device that minimizes interference with the one or moreneighboring large area cellular devices and the one or more small areacellular devices includes prioritizing the one or more neighboring largearea cellular devices over the one or more neighboring small areacellular devices, in which the first small area cellular device includesa femtocell, a picocell, or a microcell, in which the one or moreneighboring small area cellular devices includes a femtocell, apicocell, and/or a microcell, and in which the neighboring large areacellular devices include one or more macrocells.

In some embodiments, a system, process, or computer program product forautonomous power adaptation for a small area cellular device (e.g.,femtocells, picocells, and microcells) in a heterogeneous cellularenvironment includes collecting sniffer measurement for one or moreneighboring femtocells and one or more neighboring picocells; anddetermining a maximum transmit power for the first femtocell such that ameasured signal quality strength at the first femtocell cell boundaryexceeds a predefined threshold using a compensation factor for sniffermeasurements for the one or more neighboring femtocells and the one ormore neighboring picocells, in which the compensation factor adjusts fora power loss over a distance based on a configurable radius of the oneor more neighboring femtocells and the one or more neighboringpicocells.

In some embodiments, a system, process, or computer program product forautonomous power adaptation for a small area cellular device (e.g.,femtocells, picocells, and microcells) in a heterogeneous cellularenvironment includes collecting measurement reports for one or more userequipment devices in communication with the femtocell; and periodicallyadjusting a maximum transmit power for the femtocell based on one ormore measurement reports for the one or more user equipment devicesbased on a threshold to fine tune transmit power adjustments for thefemtocell.

In some embodiments, an HNB sniffer reports a co-channel or adjacentchannel pilot signal strength (e.g., Common PIlot CHannel (CPICH) Ecp/Ioin Universal Mobile Telecommunications Standard (UMTS) greater than −18decibels (dB), in which Ecp refers to the Received Signal Code Power(RSCP) or Received Pilot Signal and Io refers to the Received SignalStrength Indicator (RSSI) or total received (Rx) power). In someembodiments, the HNB max transmit (Tx) power (Pmax) is determined to beat a level to maintain an Ecp/Io of −18 dB for a co-channel MUE locatedX dB (e.g., in which X is predefined and configurable) away from the HNB(e.g., to protect the co-channel macro user), and to maintain an Ecp/Ioof −18 dB for a MUE on the adjacent channel, located (X-33) dB (ACLR(Adjacent Channel Leakage Ratio)=45 dBc, ACS (Adjacent ChannelSelectivity)=33 dB→ACIR (Adjacent Channel Interference Ratio)=33 dB)away from the HNB (i.e. to protect the adjacent channel macro user), andPmax<=15 dBm. In some embodiments, Pmax is set based on the HNB snifferreports of Best Macro CPICH RSCP, Best Macro CPICH Ec/Io (e.g.,co-channel or adjacent channel).

FIG. 2 is a chart illustrating Pmax vs. macro CPICH RSCP to maintainEcp/Io at −18 dB at 80 dB away from HNB for co-channel and 47 dB foradjacent channel in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a chart illustrating Pmax vs. macro CPICH Ec/Io to maintain amacrocell Ecp/Io at −18 dB at 80 dB away from HNB for co-channel and 47dB for adjacent channel in accordance with some embodiments.

With respect to FIGS. 2 and 3, X is assumed to be 80 dB, which is ˜20 mfor indoor path loss as shown in FIG. 5, which provides a chartillustrating indoor path loss vs. distance. In particular, FIGS. 2 and 3provide different plots of the below equation as shown in the respectivecharts.

$\frac{RSCP}{\frac{P\;\max}{{ACIR}*\left( {X - 33} \right){dB}} + {RSSI}} = {{- 18}\mspace{20mu}{dB}}$P max  = min (15, X  dB + RSCP + 10 * log  10(10⋀1.8 − 10⋀(−0.1 * Ec/Io)))

FIG. 4 illustrates coverage and path loss for two HNB devices (e.g.femtocells) in accordance with some embodiments. As shown, UE device 402is at the cell boundary of a femtocell 404 and another femtocell 406.For example, if the HNB sniffer reports the co-channel best macro CPICHEc/Io<=−18 dB and both adjacent channel best macro CPICH Ec/Ios<=−18 dBand a Co-Channel or Adjacent Channel Best HNB CPICH Ec/Io>−16 dB, thenvarious techniques as described herein can be applied to set thetransmit power for the small area cellular device. For example, the HNBMax Tx Power (Pmax) can be set to maintain an Ecp/Io of −16 dB for aco-channel Neighbor HUE located Y dB (e.g., in which Y is predefined andconfigurable) away from the HNB (e.g., to protect the co-channelneighbor HNB user) and to maintain an Ecp/Io of −16 dB for a neighborHUE on the adjacent channel, located (Y-33) dB (ACLR=45 dBc, ACS=33dB→ACIR=33 dB) away from the HNB (e.g., to protect the adjacent channelNeighbor HNB user), and Pmax<=15 dBm (e.g., 0-15 dBm for femtocells).The Pmax can be set based on the HNB sniffer reports of best HNB CPICHRSCP, best HNB CPICH Ec/Io (co-channel, or adjacent channel).

FIG. 6 is a chart illustrating Pmax vs. HNB CPICH RSCP to maintain aneighbor HNB Ecp/Io at −16 dB at 60 dB away from HNB for co-channel and27 dB for adjacent channel in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 7 is a chart illustrating Pmax vs. HNB CPICH Ec/Io to maintain aneighbor HNB Ecp/Io at −16 dB at 60 dB away from HNB for co-channel and27 dB for adjacent channel in accordance with some embodiments.

With respect to FIGS. 6 and 7, Y is assume to be 60 dB (e.g., ˜5 m forindoor as shown in FIG. 5). In particular, FIGS. 6 and 7 providedifferent plots of the below equation as shown in the respective charts.

$\frac{{RSCP} + {Z\mspace{20mu}{dB}}}{\frac{P\;\max}{{ACIR}*\left( {Y - 33} \right){dB}} + \left( {{RSSI} + {Z\mspace{14mu}{dB}}} \right)} = {{- 16}\mspace{20mu}{dB}}$P max  = min (15, Y  dB + Z  dB + RSCP + 10 * log  10(10⋀1.6 − 10⋀(−0.1 * Ec/Io)))For Y=60 dB, d=5 m, Z=10 dB, where Z is provided as a compensationfactor for RSCP and RSSI, that is, as a compensation of sniffermeasurements to HUE measurements performed at the HNB cell boundarywhere minimum Ecp/Io=−16 dB is to be maintained. As shown in FIG. 5, thepath loss is not linear over distance (e.g., the path loss from 0 m to 5m is about 60 dB while the path loss from 0 m to 10 m is approximately70 dB). In this example, the value of Z is determined based on FIG. 5for the predefined and configurable HNB cell radius equal to 5 m (e.g.,Z=Path Loss at 10 m−Path Loss at 5 m=70 dB−60 dB=10 dB).

In some embodiments, if the HNB sniffer reports the co-channel bestmacro CPICH Ec/Io<=−18 dB and both adjacent channel best macro CPICHEc/Io<=−18 dB and the co-channel best HNB CPICH Ec/Io<=−16 dB and bothadjacent channel best HNB CPICH Ec/Ios<=−16 dB, then the Pmax is set ata predetermined or default transmit power level (e.g., 7 dBm or someother setting). In some embodiments, the CPICH power is set to be equalto (Pmax-10) dBm.

In some embodiments, power adaptation for a small area cellular devicein a heterogeneous cellular environment includes fine tuning CPICH powerusing UE measurement reports in addition to using sniffer reports todetermine transmit power level. In some embodiments, the small areacellular device (e.g., femtocell, picocell, or microcell) performs thebelow loop periodically to fine tune the transmit power.

For every W seconds:

If min(reported CPICH Ec/Io_i, i=1,2,..,N, where N = number of UEsserved by the femtocell) >= -14dB (e.g., or some other value that isbetter than the above discussed target example of -16dB) {  Pmax′ = Pmax-1dB;  Set HNB CPICH Power = (Pmax′-10) dBm; };

-   -   Where N=number of UEs served by the HNB, W (e.g., every 1 second        or some other time setting value) is a configurable parameter        depending on user activities and environment.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating autonomous power adaptation in aheterogeneous cellular environment in accordance with some embodiments.At 802, macrocell and HNB CPICH Echo data, RSCP data is collected, andthe collected results are sorted. At 804, whether the best CoCh or AdChmacrocell Ecp/Io>−18 dB (e.g., to determine whether the first threshold,which can be set at a different threshold value, is exceeded) isdetermined (e.g., to first prioritize protecting neighboringmacrocell(s)). If not, then at 812, whether the best CoCh or AdCh HNBEcp/Io>−16 dB (e.g., to determine whether the second threshold, whichcan be set at a different threshold value, is exceeded) is determined.If not, then at 816, a transmit power is set to a default orpredetermined level (e.g., 0-15 dBm for femtocells, such as 7 dBm, and23-27 dBm for picocells, or some other power setting values). If thesecond threshold is exceeded, then at 814, the transmit power (Pmax)setting for the small area cellular device is determined based on thebest HNB CPICH RSCP and Echo measurements (e.g., using various tablelookup techniques as discussed above with respect to FIGS. 6 and 7 toprovide for the above described Z factor compensation of sniffermeasurements to HUE measurements). If the first threshold is exceeded,then at 806, the transmit power (Pmax) setting for the small areacellular device is determined based on the best macrocell CPICH RSCP andEcho measurements (e.g., using various table lookup techniques asdiscussed above with respect to FIGS. 2 and 3). At 808, the transmitpower (Pmax) for the small area cellular device is set. At 810, theCPICH power is set to be equal to (Pmax-10) dBm. At 818, whether a newsniffer report has been received is determined (e.g., such can beperformed periodically, such as once per day, once per hour, or someother time interval and/or based on an event, such as a power cycle, orother events, such as errors or interrupts). If a new sniffer report hasbeen received, the process returns to 802. If not, then processingproceeds to 820, and optional fine tuning of CPICH power using UEmeasurement reports is performed (e.g., using various techniquesdescribed herein), and then processing returns to 818.

FIG. 9 is a functional diagram for Home Node B device (HNB) 902 (e.g.,femtocell or picocell) for implementing autonomous power adaptation in aheterogeneous cellular environment in accordance with some embodiments.As shown, HNB 902 includes a processor 904 (e.g., for call processing,and for executing program instructions, such as executable code, such asfor performing various autonomous power adaptation functions describedherein) and a memory 906 (e.g., for call processing data, and forstoring executable code, sniffer reports, predetermined settings andthresholds and other data). The HNB 902 also includes a sniffer 908,which performs the sniffer functions described herein. As shown, the HNB902 further includes an HNB Tx transmitter 910 and HNB Rx receiver 912.The HNB 902 is also shown to include HNB Pmax Tx power determiner 914for performing the transmit power determination for the HNB using thevarious techniques described herein (e.g., prioritizing protection ofMUE, then neighboring HUE, and then to set within a defaultsetting/power level range). The HNB 902 further includes an HNB Pmax Txpower fine tuner 916 for performing the power fine tuning adjustmenttechniques as described herein with respect to various embodiments. Insome embodiments, the functional HNB architecture as shown in FIG. 9, orother similar architectures as will now be apparent to one of ordinaryskill in the art in view of the disclosed embodiments, can be used forimplementing autonomous power adaptation in a heterogeneous cellularenvironment. As will also now be apparent to one of ordinary skill inthe art in view of the disclosed embodiments, the various techniquesdescribed herein for implementing autonomous power adaptation in aheterogeneous cellular environment are not limited to any particularcellular networking standards (e.g., and applicable to, for example,3GPP HSPA 3G/4G, LTE, LTE-A, and W-CDMA as well as other cellularnetworking standards).

Although the foregoing embodiments have been described in some detailfor purposes of clarity of understanding, the invention is not limitedto the details provided. There are many alternative ways of implementingthe invention. The disclosed embodiments are illustrative and notrestrictive.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for autonomous power adaptation for afirst small area cellular device in a heterogeneous cellularenvironment, comprising: a processor configured to: collect receivedsignal strength information for one or more neighboring large areacellular devices and one or more neighboring small area cellulardevices; determine a maximum transmit power for the first small areacellular device that minimizes interference with the one or moreneighboring large area cellular devices and the one or more small areacellular devices, wherein determining the maximum transmit power for thefirst small area cellular device that minimizes interference with theone or more neighboring large area cellular devices and the one or moresmall area cellular devices includes prioritizing the one or moreneighboring large area cellular devices over the one or more neighboringsmall area cellular devices by prioritizing minimization of interferenceto macro user equipment devices that belong to neighboring large areacellular devices over minimization of interference to user equipmentdevices that belong to neighboring small area cellular devices;determine whether a first measured signal quality strength for aneighboring macrocell exceeds a first predefined threshold, wherein thefirst measured signal quality strength for the neighboring macrocell isbased on a pilot signal transmitted from the neighboring macrocell; ifthe first measured signal quality strength for the neighboring macrocellis determined to not exceed the first predefined threshold, thendetermine whether a second measured signal quality strength for aneighboring femtocell or a neighboring picocell exceeds a secondpredefined threshold, wherein the second measured signal qualitystrength for the neighboring femtocell or the neighboring picocell isbased on a pilot signal transmitted from the neighboring femtocell orthe neighboring picocell; and if the second measured signal qualitystrength for the neighboring femtocell or the neighboring picocell isdetermined to not exceed the second predefined threshold, then set themaximum transmit power of the first small area cellular device to apredetermined transmit power setting, comprising to: if the first smallarea cellular device corresponds to a first type, then set the maximumtransmit power of the first small area cellular device to a firstpredetermined transmit power setting; and if the first small areacellular device corresponds to a second type, then set the maximumtransmit power of the first small area cellular device to a secondpredetermined transmit power setting, the first predetermined transmitpower setting being different from the second predetermined transmitpower setting, wherein the first small area cellular device includes afemtocell, a picocell, or a microcell, wherein the one or moreneighboring small area cellular devices includes a femtocell, apicocell, and/or a microcell, and wherein the neighboring large areacellular devices include one or more macrocells; and a memory coupled tothe processor and configured to provide the processor with instructions.2. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the user equipment devicesthat belong to neighboring small area cellular devices include one ormore home user equipment devices.
 3. The system recited in claim 1,wherein the processor is further configured to: sort the received signalstrength information for the one or more neighboring large area cellulardevices; and sort the received signal strength information for the oneor more neighboring small area cellular devices.
 4. The system recitedin claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to: determinewhether a first measured signal quality strength for a neighboringmacrocell exceeds a first predefined threshold, wherein the firstmeasured signal quality strength for the neighboring macrocell is basedon a pilot signal transmitted from the neighboring macrocell.
 5. Thesystem recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configuredto: determine whether a first measured signal quality strength for aneighboring macrocell exceeds a first predefined threshold, wherein thefirst measured signal quality strength for the neighboring macrocell isbased on a pilot signal transmitted from the neighboring macrocell; andif the first measured signal quality strength for the neighboringmacrocell is determined to exceed the first predefined threshold, thendetermine the maximum transmit power for the first small area cellulardevice such that the first measured signal quality strength at the firstsmall area cellular device cell boundary exceeds the first predefinedthreshold.
 6. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor isfurther configured to: determine whether a first measured signal qualitystrength for a neighboring macrocell exceeds a first predefinedthreshold, wherein the first measured signal quality strength for theneighboring macrocell is based on a pilot signal transmitted from theneighboring macrocell; and if the first measured signal quality strengthfor the neighboring macrocell is determined to not exceed the firstpredefined threshold, then determine whether a second measured signalquality strength for a neighboring femtocell or a neighboring picocellexceeds a second predefined threshold, wherein the second measuredsignal quality strength for the neighboring femtocell or the neighboringpicocell is based on a pilot signal transmitted from the neighboringfemtocell or the neighboring picocell.
 7. The system recited in claim 1,wherein the processor is further configured to: determine whether afirst measured signal quality strength for a neighboring macrocellexceeds a first predefined threshold, wherein the first measured signalquality strength for the neighboring macrocell is based on a pilotsignal transmitted from the neighboring macrocell; if the first measuredsignal quality strength for the neighboring macrocell is determined tonot exceed the first predefined threshold, then determine whether asecond measured signal quality strength for a neighboring femtocell or aneighboring picocell exceeds a second predefined threshold, wherein thesecond measured signal quality strength for the neighboring femtocell orthe neighboring picocell is based on a pilot signal transmitted from theneighboring femtocell or the neighboring picocell; and if the secondmeasured signal quality strength for the neighboring femtocell or theneighboring picocell is determined to exceed the second predefinedthreshold, then determine the maximum transmit power for the first smallarea cellular device such that the second measured signal qualitystrength at the first small area cellular device cell boundary exceedsthe second predefined threshold.
 8. The system recited in claim 1,wherein the processor is further configured to: determine the maximumtransmit power for the first small area cellular device such that ameasured signal quality strength at the first small area cellular devicecell boundary exceeds a predefined threshold using a compensation factorfor sniffer measurements for the one or more neighboring femtocells orthe one or more neighboring picocells, wherein the compensation factoradjusts for a power loss over a distance based on a configurable radiusof the one or more neighboring femtocells or the one or more neighboringpicocells.
 9. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor isfurther configured to: periodically adjust the maximum transmit power ofthe first small area cellular device based on one or more measurementreports received from one or more user equipment devices based on a finetuning threshold to fine tune the transmit power of the first small areacellular device.
 10. The system recited in claim 1, wherein theprocessor is further configured to: determine whether a new snifferreport is received.
 11. A method for autonomous power adaptation for afirst small area cellular device in a heterogeneous cellularenvironment, comprising: collecting received signal strength informationfor one or more neighboring large area cellular devices and one or moreneighboring small area cellular devices; determining a maximum transmitpower for the first small area cellular device that minimizesinterference with the one or more neighboring large area cellulardevices and the one or more small area cellular devices, whereindetermining the maximum transmit power for the first small area cellulardevice that minimizes interference with the one or more neighboringlarge area cellular devices and the one or more small area cellulardevices includes prioritizing the one or more neighboring large areacellular devices over the one or more neighboring small area cellulardevices by prioritizing minimization of interference to macro userequipment devices that belong to neighboring large area cellular devicesover minimization of interference to user equipment devices that belongto neighboring small area cellular devices; determining whether a firstmeasured signal quality strength for a neighboring macrocell exceeds afirst predefined threshold, wherein the first measured signal qualitystrength for the neighboring macrocell is based on a pilot signaltransmitted from the neighboring macrocell; if the first measured signalquality strength for the neighboring macrocell is determined to notexceed the first predefined threshold, then determining whether a secondmeasured signal quality strength for a neighboring femtocell or aneighboring picocell exceeds a second predefined threshold, wherein thesecond measured signal quality strength for the neighboring femtocell orthe neighboring picocell is based on a pilot signal transmitted from theneighboring femtocell or the neighboring picocell; and if the secondmeasured signal quality strength for the neighboring femtocell or theneighboring picocell is determined to not exceed the second predefinedthreshold, then setting the maximum transmit power of the first smallarea cellular device to a predetermined transmit power setting,comprising to: if the first small area cellular device corresponds to afirst type, then setting the maximum transmit power of the first smallarea cellular device to a first predetermined transmit power setting;and if the first small area cellular device corresponds to a secondtype, then setting the maximum transmit power of the first small areacellular device to a second predetermined transmit power setting, thefirst predetermined transmit power setting being different from thesecond predetermined transmit power setting, wherein the first smallarea cellular device includes a femtocell, a picocell, or a microcell,wherein the one or more neighboring small area cellular devices includesa femtocell, a picocell, and/or a microcell, and wherein the neighboringlarge area cellular devices include one or more macrocells.
 12. Themethod of claim 11, wherein the user equipment devices that belong toneighboring small area cellular devices include one or more home userequipment devices.
 13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:determining whether a first measured signal quality strength for aneighboring macrocell exceeds a first predefined threshold, wherein thefirst measured signal quality strength for the neighboring macrocell isbased on a pilot signal transmitted from the neighboring macrocell; andif the first measured signal quality strength for the neighboringmacrocell is determined to exceed the first predefined threshold, thendetermining the maximum transmit power for the first small area cellulardevice such that the first measured signal quality strength at the firstsmall area cellular device cell boundary exceeds the first predefinedthreshold.
 14. The method of claim 11, further comprising: determiningwhether a first measured signal quality strength for a neighboringmacrocell exceeds a first predefined threshold, wherein the firstmeasured signal quality strength for the neighboring macrocell is basedon a pilot signal transmitted from the neighboring macrocell; if thefirst measured signal quality strength for the neighboring macrocell isdetermined to not exceed the first predefined threshold, thendetermining whether a second measured signal quality strength for aneighboring femtocell or a neighboring picocell exceeds a secondpredefined threshold, wherein the second measured signal qualitystrength for the neighboring femtocell or the neighboring picocell isbased on a pilot signal transmitted from the neighboring femtocell orthe neighboring picocell; and if the second measured signal qualitystrength for the neighboring femtocell or the neighboring picocell isdetermined to not exceed the second predefined threshold, then settingthe maximum transmit power of the first small area cellular device to apredetermined transmit power setting.
 15. A computer program product forautonomous power adaptation for a first small area cellular device in aheterogeneous cellular environment, the computer program product beingembodied in a non-transitory, tangible computer readable storage mediumand comprising computer instructions for: collecting received signalstrength information for one or more neighboring large area cellulardevices and one or more neighboring small area cellular devices;determining a maximum transmit power for the first small area cellulardevice that minimizes interference with the one or more neighboringlarge area cellular devices and the one or more small area cellulardevices, wherein determining the maximum transmit power for the firstsmall area cellular device that minimizes interference with the one ormore neighboring large area cellular devices and the one or more smallarea cellular devices includes prioritizing the one or more neighboringlarge area cellular devices over the one or more neighboring small areacellular devices by prioritizing minimization of interference to macrouser equipment devices that belong to neighboring large area cellulardevices over minimization of interference to user equipment devices thatbelong to neighboring small area cellular devices; determining whether afirst measured signal quality strength for a neighboring macrocellexceeds a first predefined threshold, wherein the first measured signalquality strength for the neighboring macrocell is based on a pilotsignal transmitted from the neighboring macrocell; if the first measuredsignal quality strength for the neighboring macrocell is determined tonot exceed the first predefined threshold, then determining whether asecond measured signal quality strength for a neighboring femtocell or aneighboring picocell exceeds a second predefined threshold, wherein thesecond measured signal quality strength for the neighboring femtocell orthe neighboring picocell is based on a pilot signal transmitted from theneighboring femtocell or the neighboring picocell; and if the secondmeasured signal quality strength for the neighboring femtocell or theneighboring picocell is determined to not exceed the second predefinedthreshold, then setting the maximum transmit power of the first smallarea cellular device to a predetermined transmit power setting,comprising to: if the first small area cellular device corresponds to afirst type, then setting the maximum transmit power of the first smallarea cellular device to a first predetermined transmit power setting;and if the first small area cellular device corresponds to a secondtype, then setting the maximum transmit power of the first small areacellular device to a second predetermined transmit power setting, thefirst predetermined transmit power setting being different from thesecond predetermined transmit power setting, wherein the first smallarea cellular device includes a femtocell, a picocell, or a microcell,wherein the one or more neighboring small area cellular devices includesa femtocell, a picocell, and/or a microcell, and wherein the neighboringlarge area cellular devices include one or more macrocells.
 16. Thecomputer program product recited in claim 15, wherein the user equipmentdevices that belong to neighboring small area cellular devices includeone or more home user equipment devices.
 17. The computer programproduct recited in claim 15, further comprising computer instructionsfor: determining whether a first measured signal quality strength for aneighboring macrocell exceeds a first predefined threshold, wherein thefirst measured signal quality strength for the neighboring macrocell isbased on a pilot signal transmitted from the neighboring macrocell; andif the first measured signal quality strength for the neighboringmacrocell is determined to exceed the first predefined threshold, thendetermining the maximum transmit power for the first small area cellulardevice such that the first measured signal quality strength at the firstsmall area cellular device cell boundary exceeds the first predefinedthreshold.
 18. The computer program product recited in claim 15, furthercomprising computer instructions for: determining whether a firstmeasured signal quality strength for a neighboring macrocell exceeds afirst predefined threshold, wherein the first measured signal qualitystrength for the neighboring macrocell is based on a pilot signaltransmitted from the neighboring macrocell; if the first measured signalquality strength for the neighboring macrocell is determined to notexceed the first predefined threshold, then determining whether a secondmeasured signal quality strength for a neighboring femtocell or aneighboring picocell exceeds a second predefined threshold, wherein thesecond measured signal quality strength for the neighboring femtocell orthe neighboring picocell is based on a pilot signal transmitted from theneighboring femtocell or the neighboring picocell; and if the secondmeasured signal quality strength for the neighboring femtocell or theneighboring picocell is determined to not exceed the second predefinedthreshold, then setting the maximum transmit power to a predeterminedtransmit power setting.